There is a sense of excitement at the Helsing Chalet at the ILA: Seven innovative space startups and medium-sized companies have signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with the industrial consortium centered around the joint venture KIRK (Artificial Intelligence and Space Competence). In doing so, they are bringing their technologies into one of Europe’s most ambitious projects for space-based defense and reconnaissance systems at an early stage.
These agreements represent an important next step following the establishment of the KIRK joint venture by Helsing and OHB, as well as the expanded partnership with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and HENSOLDT. The goal is to systematically leverage the innovative strength of the German and European New Space ecosystem, thereby accelerating the development of a technologically leading and globally competitive space industry.
At the heart of this is a clear approach: the early integration of market-ready solutions from startups and SMEs is intended to significantly boost speed, technological sovereignty, and operational efficiency.
Gundbert Scherf, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Helsing, says: “Our shared goal is clear: Europe must win the battle for its sovereignty in orbit. This requires experience, the brightest minds, innovative strength, and agility in a collaborative partnership.”
Marco Fuchs, CEO of OHB SE, says: “Anyone who wants to achieve speed and technological excellence today must consistently harness the innovative power of startups. That is exactly what we are doing here. Together, we are laying the foundation for a strong European space ecosystem. Involving young technology companies from the very beginning is the key to developing systems that are both rapidly deployable and highly innovative. This strengthens Europe’s sovereignty in space in the long term.”
Broad Alliance for Innovation
The signed letters of intent bring together complementary expertise from the New Space sector. OHB has entered into partnerships with ConstellR, Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), and Marble Imaging.
Helsing's partnerships include DMI and TerraLens. Helsing and OHB Digital have agreed to collaborate with LiveEO. In addition, ISAR Aerospace and Kongsberg have signed an agreement.
Faster, more precise, more capable
By bringing together established industry partners and agile New Space companies, a powerful network is created that combines the best available technologies. The goal is to develop solutions that are rapidly deployable, highly reliable, and cost-effective. The approach is clear: the “best of the best” are united under the consortium’s umbrella to significantly enhance the performance of modern space-based systems. For users, this translates to tangible benefits: better data, faster response times, and greater security.
At the same time, the initiative represents an important step toward building a strong national and European space ecosystem. It directly contributes to the goal of establishing Germany as a leading space power within Europe. With today’s signing, the KIRK joint venture is sending a clear message: the future of space exploration is shaped by the synergy between industrial strength and entrepreneurial innovation.
